Isocratic separations of closely-related mono- and disaccharides by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection using dilute alkaline spiked with barium acetate.

Mixtures of closely related mono- and disaccharides may be efficiently separated by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC) only when relatively dilute alkaline eluents are employed (i.e., < 20 mM NaOH). The main drawbacks of these eluent solutions are (i) column regeneration between runs, (ii) poor reproducibility of the retention times, and (iii) the need for post-column base addition for enhancing sensitivity. Here, we describe some examples of isocratic separations of carbohydrates by HPAEC coupled with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) accomplished by carbonate-free alkaline eluents (i.e., 5-20 mM NaOH) obtained upon addition of Ba(OAc)2 (1-2 mM). These separations include aldohexoses (i.e., galactose, glucose, and mannose), aminohexoses (i.e., glucosamine and galactosamine) and their N-acylated derivatives (i.e., N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine) along with some isomeric disaccharides (i.e., lactose, lactulose and epilactose). The separation of closely related isomers of trehalose, alpha,alpha, alpha,beta, and beta,beta, is also presented. It is recommended to add Ba(OAc)2 to NaOH solutions several hours before using the alkaline eluent (i.e., 12-24 h) to ensure complete barium carbonate precipitation in the eluent reservoir. Adopting such a simple strategy can be especially useful for performing carbohydrate separations under isocratic conditions in which no regeneration and or re-equilibration of column between runs is required. Excellent repeatability of retention data throughout a three-day working session was observed, with relative standard deviations ranging from 2.0 to 3.7%, and from 0.5 to 2.0%, as day-to-day and within-day values, respectively. In addition, there was no need for postcolumn addition of strong bases to the eluent, and successful applications of the present approach confirmed its validity and practicability with detection limits of simple carbohydrates in the picomole range.     

Carbohydrate analysis by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection: The potential is still growing

This article reviews recent advances of carbohydrate analysis by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection. Starting from the paper of Dennis C. Johnson [1] in which the great analytical promise of such a technique was anticipated, a multitude of exciting new research possibilities have recently emerged. The great attractiveness of high-performance anion-exchange chromatography is largely due to its compatibility with such a sensitive, selective and reliable detection method as pulsed amperometry. This very good match between liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection has allowed the determination of carbohydrates in a variety of complex matrices, for instance, foods, beverages, diary and biotechnological products, vegetal tissues, and also in the area of clinical diagnostics. For this reason, the introduction of HPAEC-PAD into regulated methods is becoming increasingly accepted. A comprehensive collection of applications to carbohydrates and samples of interest is given, with special focus on the separation of closely related sugar compounds using dilute alkaline eluents. Advances in pulsed potential waveforms are also discussed, and a comparison with other liquid chromatographic methods addressed.     

The Hydrolysis of the Anhydride of 2-Cyano-2-phenylpropanoic Acid Triggers the Repeated Back and Forth Motions of an Acid–Base Operated Molecular Switch

This work aimed to render phenomenologically autonomous the otherwise stepwise operation of a catenane-based molecular switch, which is chemically triggered by the decarboxylation of 2-cyano-2-phenylpropanoic acid ( 2 ). Given that any amount of 2 in stoichiometric excess with respect to the catenane is consumed in a side reaction, the authors resorted to the corresponding anhydride 5 , the slow hydrolysis of which, due to adventitious water in dichloromethane, continuously produces in situ the actual fuel 2 . As a consequence, the machine does not require a reloading after each cycle, but switches back and forth as long as fuel is present.     

Identification of unsaturated N-acylhomoserine lactones in bacterial isolates of Rhodobacter sphaeroides by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization-hybrid linear ion trap-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

The identification of two unsaturated N‐acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) produced by Rhodobacter sphaeroides bacteria, based on liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to a hybrid quadrupole linear ion trap (LTQ)‐Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometer upon electrospray ionization (ESI), is presented. Besides the confirmation of the signaling molecule already described in the literature, i.e. (Z)‐N‐tetradec‐7‐enoyl‐homoserine lactone (C_14:1‐HSL), we have discovered the occurrence, at low, yet significant levels, of another monounsaturated compound, C_12:1‐HSL, which may extend the number of small diffusible chemical signals known for R. sphaeroides. Both unsaturated AHLs were identified by high‐resolution FTICR mass spectrometry in extracts of bacterial culture media and the occurrence of a C=C bond was assessed upon their conversion into bromohydrins. Collision‐induced dissociation (CID) spectra were then collected on the LTQ mass analyzer. A careful comparison of tandem MS spectra of monounsaturated (i.e., C_12:1‐HSL and C_14:1‐HSL) and saturated AHLs (i.e. C₁₂‐HSL and C₁₄‐HSL) led to the emphasis of two series of product ions, exhibiting 14 Da spaced m/z ratios. Both series were referred to progressive fragmentations at the aliphatic end of the AHL acyl chains, followed by neutral losses of terminal alkenes (i.e. CH₂=CH(CH₂)_nH). In particular, the series located at the higher end of the explored m/z range (>200 Da), observed only for monounsaturated species, enabled the location of the C=C bond between carbons 7 and 8 of the acyl chain. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An Interplay Between Infrared Multiphoton Dissociation Fourier-Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry and Density Functional Theory Computations in the Characterization of a Tripodal Quinolin-8-Olate Gd(III) Complex

A new hexadentate, tripodal 8-hydroxyquinoline based ligand (QH₃) and its gadolinium(III) tris-chelated (GdQ) complex with hemicage structure was investigated by using high resolution Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICRMS). The protonated adduct of the free ligand and its hemicage tripodal Gd(III) complex, [GdQ + H]⁺, were first observed in experiments of electrospray ionization (ESI) with a linear ion trap (LTQ) mass spectrometer and further investigated by using high resolution FTICRMS. Gas-phase dissociation of the protonated Gd(III) complex, by infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) FTICR MS, demonstrated a fragmentation pattern with six main product cluster ions labeled as [F_n]⁺ (n?=?1 up to 6). These product ions suggest the elimination of 7-amino-alkyl or 7-alkyl chains of the hemicage moiety. High resolution MS conditions allowed the elucidation of the fragmentation pattern and product ion structures along with the determination, among the isotopic pattern of Gd, of the chemical compositions of closely related species, which differ in terms of hydrogen content. Among the Gd six naturally stable isotopes, ¹⁵⁸Gd is the most abundant, and its peak within each cluster was used as a reference for distinguishing each product ions. Computational DFT investigations were applied to give support to some hypothesis of fragmentation pathways, which could not have been easily justified on the basis of the experimental work. Furthermore, computational studies suggested the coordination geometry of the protonated parent complex and the five- and four-coordinated complexes, which derive from its fragmentation. Furthermore, experimental and computational evidences were collected about the octet spin state of the parent compound.      

Molecular formula analysis of fragment ions by isotope‐selective collision‐induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry of pharmacologically active compounds

The purpose of this work is to explore the mass fragment characterization of commonly used drugs through a novel approach, which involves isotope‐selective tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Collision‐induced dissociation (CID) was performed with a low‐resolution linear ion trap mass spectrometer in positive electrospray ionization. Three pharmacologically active ingredients, i.e. omeprazole, meloxicam and brinzolamide, selected as model compounds in their own formulation, were investigated as a sodiated adduct [C₁₇H₁₉N₃O₃S + Na]⁺ (omeprazole) and as protonated adducts, [C₁₄H₁₃N₃O₄S₂ + H]⁺ and [C₁₂H₂₁N₃O₅S₃ + H]⁺, meloxicam and brinzolamide, respectively. Selecting a narrow window of ±0.5 m/z units, precursor ion fragmentation by CID‐MS/MS of isotopologues A + 0, A + 1 and A + 2 was found very useful to confirm the chemical formula of product ions, thus aiding the establishment of characteristic fragmentation pathways of all three examined compounds. The correctness of putative molecular formula of product ions was easily demonstrated by exploiting the isotope peak abundance ratios (i.e. I_F+0/I_F+1 and I_F+0/I_F+2) as simple constraints in low‐resolution MS instrumentations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The microwave heating of two-dimensional slabs with small Arrhenius absorptivity

The microwave heating of two-dimensional slabs in a long rectangularwaveguide propagating the TE₁₀ mode is examined. The temperaturedependency of the electrical conductivity and the thermal absorptivityis assumed to be governed by the Arrhenius law, while both theelectrical permittivity and the magnetic permeability are assumedconstant. The governing equations are the forced heat equationand the steady-state version of Maxwell's equation while theboundary conditions take into account both convective and radiativeheat loss. Approximate analytical solutions, valid for smallthermal absorptivity, are found for the temperature and theelectric-field amplitude using the Galerkin method. As the Arrheniuslaw is not amenable analytically, it is approximated by a rational-cubicfunction. At the steady state the temperature versus power relationshipis found to be multivalued; at the critical power level thermalrunaway occurs when the temperature jumps from the lower (cool)temperature branch to the upper (hot) temperature branch ofthe solution. In the steady-state limit the approximate analyticalsolutions are compared with the numerical solutions of the governingequations for various special cases. These are the limits ofsmall and large heat loss and an intermediate case involvingradiative heat loss. Results are also presented for a case wheredifferential cooling occurs on the different sides on the slab.An alternative heating scenario, where one end of the waveguideis blocked by a short, is also considered. The approximate solutionsare found for this geometry and compared in the small Biot-numberlimit to Kriegsmann (1997). Also, a control process is presented,which allows thermal runaway to be avoided and the desired finalsteady state to be reached. Various special cases of the feedbackparameters associated with the control process are examined.     

Bi-directional modulation of AMPA receptor unitary conductance by synaptic activity

Background  

Knowledge of how synapses alter their efficiency of communication is central to the understanding of learning and memory. The most extensively studied forms of synaptic plasticity are long-term potentiation (LTP) and its counterpart long-term depression (LTD) of AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission. In the CA1 region of the hippocampus, it has been shown that LTP often involves a rapid increase in the unitary conductance of AMPA receptor channels. However, LTP can also occur in the absence of any alteration in AMPA receptor unitary conductance. In the present study we have used whole-cell dendritic recording, failures analysis and non-stationary fluctuation analysis to investigate the mechanism of depotentiation of LTP.     

Amperometric determination of underivatized amino acids at a nickel-modified gold electrode by anion-exchange chromatography

A nickel-based composite electrode obtained by anodic electrodeposition of nickel (III) oxyhydroxide film on the gold electrode substrate was characterized as an amperometric sensor and successfully applied to the determination of underivatised amino acids in flow-through systems. The electrodeposition of nickel oxyhydroxide films was obtained by cycling a gold electrode between 0.0 V and +1.0 V vs. a saturated calomel electrode in a 80 microM Ni2+ solution buffered at pH 10 with NaHCO3/Na2CO3. The resulting Au-Ni composite electrode exhibits good stability in alkaline medium and can be used as an amperometric sensor of underivatised amino acids at a fixed applied potential (+0.55 V vs. Ag/AgCl). The detection limits (S/N=3) for all investigated compounds ranged between 5 and 30 pmol injected, while the linear ranges spanned over two or three orders of magnitude. The contents of several free amino acids in two sample cheeses from different brands were evaluated by calibration graphs.